RANDAL KLEISER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   B.5. 

USA, 1980.  Columbia Pictures Corporation.  Screenplay by Douglas Day Stewart, based on the novel by Henry De Vere Stacpoole.  Cinematography by Nestor Almendros.  Produced by Randal Kleiser.  Music by Basil Poledouris.  Production Design by Jon Dowding.  Costume Design by Jean-Pierre Dorleac.  Film Editing by Robert Gordon.  

Remake of the 1949 film starring Jean Simmons (which was previously a silent film in 1923) tries to be a more ‘honest’ depiction of the story by allowing for more overt sexuality, but just comes off as soft-core kiddie porn. Christopher Atkins and Brooke Shields play two youngsters who are shipwrecked on a deserted island and left with no one but each other to help fend off the dangers of nature. When their sexual desires start to bud, they explore all the possibilities that human bodies have to offer (thank God they’re both straight or that would be a waste of great energy), culminating in childbirth and eventually, emotional independence. If you want to just enjoy the plentiful nudity (all of Shields’s scenes were performed by a body double), you’ll survive the painfully bad dialogue and weak performances, but otherwise you’ll be stuck looking at gorgeous photography and not much else. Followed by a sequel, Return To The Blue Lagoon in 1991 (because, let’s face it, they’re stupid enough to get stuck there again).

Academy Award Nomination:  Best Cinematography